Chain-link.



M- B. RYAN.

CHAIN LINK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30. 1914.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

CHAIN-LINK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented se t. 12, rain.

Application filed June 30, 1914. Serial No. 848,123.

The invention relates particularly to improvements in the-construction of Wire-links for chains shown and described in Letters Patent granted to me April 14, 1914, No. 1,093,209.

The object of the invention is to provide a cheap, strong and durable light weight link for hitching and draft chains, and for such uses where strength combined with.

light weight is essential or desired.

The invention consists in forming a link of a single strand of metalof uniform diameter, preferably steel wire, and bending it intermediate its ends to provide two loops or eyes of substantially the same diameter and arranged in planes at substantially right" angles to each other, and in extending the ends of the metal so that they will engage and overlap one another and to lie against the body'portion of the metal at the center of the link, and further in welding the said ends together and to,the said body portion of the link so as to provide closed loops or eyes to thus prevent the'links when formed into a chain from being detached and the loops from being opened and the consequent parting of the chain when strain is placed thereon. I

The invention further cpnsists in the details of construction as w ll be hereinafter fully described and thenclaimed.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is a front view of one form of my improved link. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same looking toward the side of the link indicated by the arrow a, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear viewof the link. Fig. 4 is a cross section of the link drawn through the central portion thereof on the line w-m of Fig. 1.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the link is formed from a single strand of metal, preferably steel wire, which is bent intermediate its ends in right-angular directions to form loops or eyes 2 an 3,

of any desired shape, so that or eyes will lie in planes at substantially right angles to each other, the extreme ends of the metal being extended slightly past the longitudinal center of the link and bent to provide short parallel sections 4 which are arranged to lie against each other and against the substantially straight central section 5 of the link. When the link is thus formed the ends 4 are pressed together and to the straightsection 5 of the body portion thereof, and are welded together and to the said body portion 5, into a solid mass, thus providing an endless link of two non-communicating loops or eyes.

' It will thus be seen that I provide an exceedingly strong and durable link from less metal than would otherwise be used were the ends bent around the body of the link in order to secure them in position and which consequently enables me to produce a chain at less cost and of greater strength for given weight material than has heretofore been constructed, and by overlapping the ends of the blank and welding them together and to the body of the link I secure a comparatively large welding surface and at the same time avoid making the joint at the wearing surfaces of or in theisides of the loops as in the construction shown in my said Letters Patent No. 1,093,208, and thus'reduce the liability of, breaking the joint should the chain be twisted and an excessive wrenching strain placed thereon.

What I claim is 1. A chain link, constructed of a single strand of metal bent intermediate its ends to provide loops or eyes arranged in planes substantially at right-angles to each other, and having the extreme ends of the metal bent to extend lengthwise of the body of the the said loops link so as to lie against each other and against the gsaid body portion, said ends beingkwelded together and to the body of the 2. A chain link, constructed of a single strand of metal bent to provide two loops or eyes which are disposed in planes substantially at right-angles to each other, and having the ends of the metal bent so as to lie lengthwise of and engagethe body of the link and to overlap and engageeach other,v said overlapped portions of the ends being welded together and to the body of the link.

3. A chain link, constructed of a single strand of metal bent intermediate its ends to substantially parallel with the v central por- 10 provide tWo loopsior eyes, the eXtreme ends tion, so as to form two opposite eyes.

of the metal being bent so as to engage each In testimony whereof I have hereunto set other and to ll)ie lengthwitsle of the body of my hand this 2% day of June, A. D. 1914.

the link at su stantially t e central portion thereof, the said ends being Welded together MICHAEL BARTHOLOMEW RYAN and to the body portion of the link. Witnesses:

4. A chain link comprising a blank of THos. E. LAKE,

Wire having its ends Welded to and lying A. B. PIKE. 

